Maple syrup season more sticky than sweet

No production records broken this year, experts predict

BOYNE CITY -- Northern Michigan sap collectors don't have as much maple syrup to go around this season.

Experts report the uncommon winter weather and early spring conditions stumped the maple sap run and subsequent sugar shack production. It's a reversal to the recent record-breaking trends in the sugar season.

"We're not going to set records for high production like we have three out of the last four years," said Russell Kidd, Michigan State University Extension forestry educator and maple syrup producer.

Michigan broke maple syrup production records last year, as well as in 2008 and 2009, according to the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service.

Buds are now pushing on area trees, which turns the sap more bitter. That means the maple syrup season is over and what's out there isn't much.

Haigh predicts statewide production levels to be below normal and it's all because the weather turned warm so very early, he said.

"There's been other years that it's been warm, but not this warm," Haigh said.

Local maple syrup producers report they haven't generated nearly so much this season, as much as two-thirds less than the normal crop at Parsons Centennial Farm near Charlevoix, for example. Read Petoskey News-Review's March 24 issue of Saturday to hear from local sugar bush owners.

In the end, those who tapped trees early -- many in February and some even in January -- fared better than those who waited for the more typical early March start time. And just because the production level isn't very sweet, that doesn't mean the syrup isn't, Haigh said.

"It's been excellent. The quality has been great," he said.

Haigh said some tree-tappers across Michigan will continue to produce syrup for a darker, less sweet product. That is often sold on the world market or to processed food producers, though there are some locals who prefer a darker syrup on their pancakes.

"It all comes down to taste," Haigh said.

This season's super short sap run and stunted maple syrup production level is just one agricultural commodity impacted by the wacky weather so far this year, both in late winter and now during this very early spring.

National weather officials report that three times this week Petoskey shattered temperature records, topping those previously set in 1966, 1968 and 1976. Northern Michigan's normal high temperatures for mid-March are in the upper 30s and low 40s.